Three youth held for sexually assaulting minor in Velankanni

Sources said S Vijay (23) alias Neelakandan, a resident of Nambiar Nagar in Nagapattinam, was in love with the girl. He contacted the girl over phone on February 13 and invited her to Velankanni. Believing that they will get married, the girl reportedly took some money and reached a lodge there.

Upon reaching the room, she was shocked to see Vijay along with his friends K Aravind (23) from Sambathottam near Nagore and K Pradeep (23) from Thirumullaivasal in Sirkazhi. The trio reportedly locked her in the room and sexually assaulted her. Although the victim pled with them to let her go, the accused detained her for two more days.

Meanwhile, the girl’s parents lodged a missing complaint with the Velippalayam police, who registered a case and began searching for her. On February 16, the girl’s parents received a call from an unknown number, in which their daughter narrated the incident to them.

Alarmed by it, her parents rushed to Velankanni and approached the Velippalayam police. After tracing the call, the police went to the lodge and rescued the girl on the same day. The culprits, however, fled the scene.

Subsequently, the Nagapattinam All Women Police registered a case against the trio under various sections of the IPC as well as the Pocso Act. The police arrested them on Monday, besides nabbing the manager of the lodge, K Ramani (50), for supporting the accused.

The victim was taken to the Nagapattinam GH for treatment. Further investigations are on.